Dec 9 (Reuters) - Ryanair said on Tuesday it would cut 1 million seats and 20 routes from its Brussels 2026/27 winter schedule over Belgium's decision to raise tax on air passenger tickets to 10 euros ($11.64) from 2027.
Belgium's tax increase comes as Germany reversed course on its own aviation levies after carriers, including Ryanair and EasyJet, reduced capacity in the country.
"Ryanair calls again on Prime Minister (Bart) De Wever and his Govt to abolish the aviation tax or Belgian traffic will collapse and fares will soar," the airline said in a statement.
The Irish low-cost airline said it will also remove five aircraft from its Brussels Charleroi airport, representing a loss of $500 million in investment, and axe 20 routes across its Belgian operations.
Charleroi city council's proposal to add another 3 euros per departing passenger from next year could trigger even deeper cuts from April 2026 and put thousands of local jobs at risk, said Ryanair's Chief Commercial Officer, Jason McGuinness.
($1 = 0.8590 euros)
(Reporting by Raechel Thankam Job in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)
